The woodland is a site of special scientific interest sssi and forms part of a national nature. It is one of the highest oak woodlands in the uk, at 380410m altitude. Its described by many as otherworldly the place is uniqu. At the heart of dartmoor, lies an eery yet fascinating gnarly old forest named wistmans wood. The old trees, whose average height is scarcely fifteen feet, are distorted, cramped, twisted, and knotted by time. Visit the help centre for the latest updates before you book. Magical mysterious woodland with an eerie feel we expected fangorn the ent to come walking out at any time. History has it that the poor dog died in the wood, from what nobody is sure. Wistmans wood has been mentioned in writing for hundreds of years.
Wistmans wood is an ancient forest of dwarf oak trees in the valley of the west dart river just north of two bridges, dartmoor. There are actually two types of stitchwort found on dartmoor the greater stitchwort stellaria dartmoor s highlanders. Visiting wistmans wood was the highlight of our time on dartmoor. This book will appeal not only to undergraduate and graduate students in history and environmental studies. Explore the legends, lore, and history of southern england. It sits like a dark, tangled mound on the slopes of the west dart river. Wistmans wood dartmoor national park 2020 all you need to. Stone box contains earliest examples of woodturning and metalworking, along with baltic amber and what may be bear skin. In 1903 the ever optimistic writer eden phillpotts devoted a whole chapter of lyrical praise to wistmans wood in his book, my devon year. It is likely to be a leftover from the ancient forest that covered much of dartmoor c. Wistmans wood is one of only three remote highaltitude oakwoods on dartmoor, devon, england.
John fowless the tree is a humble revolt against usefulness books. Opposite wistmans wood and amidst the bronze age features scattered nearby are the remains of princetowns iron horse. Small free car park which was fell so we parked in a nearby layby. Wistmans wood is one of only three remote highaltitude oakwoods on dartmoor, devon. Haunting history of wistmans wood, dartmoor national park. The signpost to wistmans wood, which is a 25 minute walk from the car park opposite the two bridges hotel on dartmoor. While that is all myth, its not hard to see why the forest is a magnet for such hokum. The mosscovered boulders, and twisted, ancient brambles of wistmans wood are haunted by tales of druids, ghosts, and supernatural spooks. Here you will discover the wildlife, the history, the geography, the legends, the. This small extract describes the flora and fauna of the wood.
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